Cellar Door

2010-04-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

The world is suddenly full of sunshine and colour. I love daffodils this time of year, such a blast of sunshiny yellow. We've been to the park and happily sat on the bare grass and didn't get damp bottoms, and so I can say that spring is definitely in full swing. We have been giving our house a spring clean and I've been taking a few photos of colourful corners as we go along. Perhaps I'll post some more soon. I love colourful, cosy homes, I'm not a tasteful, beige, minimalist kind of girl at all. And I love seeing pics of other bloggers' homes online. Isn't it fun to peak into the homes of others?

2010-03-31T05:21:00.000-07:00

I remember sleep. I was madly in love with my bed. I could stay there under the duvet for hours of the sweetest, deepest sleep. It was divine. http://lullym.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annaszczek/4038066839/From Blonde magazine
But tonight I must prop open my eyelids as I'm off to the theatre. I only hope my seat is uncomfortable enough to keep me awake.

2010-03-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

How many coughs and sneezes can a girl catch one after another? Life is all early nights and soggy hankies. I swear I never used to get ill, ever. I feel worn out and faded like an old Polaroid photograph. Even right now, as I type, and the baby sleeps, I could quite easily rest my fuggy head on the keyboard and drift off. That would be nice but foolhardy as this hour whilst the baby sleeps is so precious. Girls with no babies revel in your freedom! Read that book, go watch that film, get drunk, put on your dancing shoes and dance and dance. And then sleep. I used to. In my old life. Ahhh. Now I'm happy enough to catch colds and kiss my baby. But I do so envy your freedom. But at least I sometimes get a tiny minute to draw or paint. Here's Sally after telling the time with a dandelion. (It's six o'clock.) Tonight I'll watch The Delicious Miss Dahl on TV and drool over Sophie's yummy concoctions as well as nosing at her kitchen. Is there anything that girl can't do? Her cooking's divine, I loved her book Playing With The Grownups and she's also the real Sophie from The BFG. Lucky Girl.
And now my sweetheart is awake and so I must go and get our coats on and take Lola for a walk before it gets too cold. They say the snow may be on its way back.

2010-03-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

Betty with a bow in Breton stripes.
It's been so sunny here, sunny but brrr freezing, which I quite like. Cold noses, clear skies, the smell of spring. And the evenings drawing out, soon we will have lots more time for walking, going to the beach, beer gardens and all other summertime evening pursuits. To think that just a couple months ago the sky was starry at this time of of day and right now as I look out of the window I can see blue sky and white clouds floating by. Hello spring, I shall not be giving up my coat and hat just yet though. http://www.flickr.com/photos/luverne/4370019909/in/set-72157623477535422/

2010-02-27T05:32:00.000-08:00

My very busy weekend has been swept away by a bug that my little sweetheart and my husband both have. Oh dear, but at least I've escaped it's clutches... so far. They are both in bed right now, asleep under the duvet.
I have a new watercolour that I quite like. She looks sad, although it is her birthday. Perhaps she misses her lover who is far away and hasn't sent a card or a gift.Last night I visited my friend's new horse, Ffion. She's beautiful, I can't wait to ride her. I love horses eyes, they are so huge and soulful. I used to ride when I was young. I miss it still.
Now I'm going to watch a film and drink some tea.

2010-02-20T06:55:00.000-08:00

This is Valerie.
She loves gardening and Italian food. Sometimes she takes a day off work to watch old black and white films.

2010-01-31T14:33:00.000-08:00

I have been painting again. It feels good! Just experimenting and trying out different ideas, trying to find something that feels 'right'. Art, exercise and books. My ingredients to wellbeing. Mix them all up with a good base of family and friends, the odd glass of wine, lots of kindness and a few pretty treats.

2010-01-22T14:32:00.000-08:00

I'm learning to be mindful. It's a skill that takes practice but I can see the benefits straight away. It's kind of hard for me to explain at the moment but it's a way of bringing yourself into the present and of freeing yourself from the way that your thoughts can influence the way that you feel.I used to be a little scornful of this kind of thing but now I'm an absolute convert. It works! It's good stuff.
And right now I'm drinking ginger wine which is also surprisingly good stuff. Very warming. Tomorrow I hope to get some work done, D is here to look after the baby for a couple of precious hours. So, so looking forward to it.

2010-01-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

At the moment...
...candlelightCarla Bruni mindfulness waiting for David Radio 4 library visits airmail
There is so much to do. It feels like I'm trying to find time and space from nowhere and that I'm running on the spot, getting nowhere. But little moments can be snatched here and there, thank goodness. Precious little moments.

2010-01-04T14:13:00.000-08:00

Watched Me, You and Everyone We Know again the other evening. ))><(( Such an great film don't you think? If you haven't seen it then get it out, watch it, it's beautiful! Miranda July is a hugely inspirational artist, film-maker whatever. I bought her book of short stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You, for D for Christmas. He seems engrossed. I'll get to read it next.

2010-01-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

A little bit late in coming but here are some beautiful things lucky me had for Christmas.
Pink GHDs.
Delicious rose petal chocolates from this sweet cottage industry chocolate maker. A Paris stamp set. Prada perfume to squirt and make me smell divine.This charm bracelet with a star and an 'A' charm ready to dangle.This moomin pocket mirror. Love the moomins, so cute.And lots more... books, pom-pom slippers, books, pyjamas, books, tickets to the theatre and a couple more books.And here's my sweetheart on Christmas morning with her ugly friend. I think she loved Christmas almost as much as me.

2009-12-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

New Wendy print finally completed. Oh, how sweet and sad Peter Pan is.
All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs. Darling put her hand to her heart and cried, "Oh, why can't you remain like this for ever!" This was all that passed between them on the subject, but henceforth Wendy knew that she must grow up. You always know after you are two. Two is the beginning of the end.

2009-12-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

New Beatnik Love print up on etsy. This print looks so good in our living room, I really love the colours. We have a stack of other framed prints we've been meaning to hang for ages but never get round to it. Must do so this week, I'm the world's worst procrastinator when it comes to stuff like that. So tired tonight... yawn...

2009-12-02T06:45:00.000-08:00

The temperature's dropped outside, I've got a cold and with Christmas creeping in through all the nooks and crannies it's definitely the time of year for getting cosy indoors. So I thought I'd post about all my favorite delicious cosy indulgences. Starting with (almost) every girl's favorite, fairy lights...I have a terrible weakness for fairy lights that I need to keep in check. Other wise my home would single handedly drain the National Grid. I'm sure lots of people see them as tacky girlie nonsense but they are so lovely, so magical and so cheap. Probably they remind me of being a little girl, an excited little girl, thrilled at Christmas, at all the wonder and all the beauty and surprise. What's not to love?
Switch on the fairy lights and instantly create a wonderland of twinkling loveliness.
And in other non- fairy light related news there are two new prints up on etsy. I'll post photos tomorrow. Right, on with the lights, it's getting dark...

2009-11-30T05:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to the Lauren Child exhibition at Cardiff museum. It was interesting to see how she works, building the gorgeous tiny sets for The Princess and the Pea and how she uses collage to achieve her unique style. Of course, it was really an exhibition for kids and there were lots of them all having a whale of a time. Her stuff is such fun, I love it and want all her books. Every single one.

I had my own little girl seven months ago and I haven't posted any photos of her yet on this blog. I feel a bit weird about it, I suppose because she's too little to have a say in it at all yet. She is such a sweetie though, very smiley and, well, she's just gorgeous. It does make it very hard to get anything done though! I've been trying to sort out my etsy site and get some new work done too (I've got lots of ideas) but it's nigh on impossible with a baby who wants to be held ALL THE TIME. I read all these blogs by supermums who have four kids and still manage to be novelists, artists and cupcake entrepreneurs and I can hardly find the time to wash my hair and find clean underwear. She is so worth it though.

2009-11-27T12:07:00.000-08:00

Summer Of Love print now on etsy. Summer feels like a long, long time ago now. The rain! So much of it. But I do love the rain. As long as my feet are dry. Why am I talking about rain when I'm posting about the Summer Of Love print?
It's such a beautiful print, the colours are lovely and it looks ace framed up. It would bring cheer to any room. Hope you like it too. Don't know why this type is so big, it won't let me change it. Grrrrr!

2009-11-26T14:53:00.000-08:00

The latest Very Fine Female, Wendy. Think she may be my favorite so far. For today at least.
I eed to introduce the text behind but can't find my copy of Peter Pan and Wendy. None of the libraries for miles around have the real thing, just adapted picture books, and only two of them out of about 14 libraries even have those. So sad!

2009-11-17T13:53:00.001-08:00

I think deer must rank amongst my favorite animals of all. They are so shy and so majestic. For me they are quite magical. Their silhouettes are wonderful. They are inspiring me a lot right now.

in the quiet, originally uploaded by slight clutter.
Some dear deer etsy finds. Click on the images for their etsy page.
I could spend a fortune, honestly. But right now I'm too tired, so off to bed I must go.

2009-11-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday David returned from a day's work in Bristol with a gift. It was this adorable coin purse from the shop Bloomsbury (which is an absolute treasure trove of goodies, it has mail order, check it out) and it was for lucky me. In fact I'm so lucky that whenever he goes away he more often than not comes home with some little treat. Like this Rob Ryan tile from a London trip which I LOVE. I'm spoilt.

2009-10-07T08:16:00.000-07:00

Alice - A Very Fine Female
Here is my completed Alice - A Very Fine Female print. I'm so pleased with how sweet it looks especially framed up alongside the Elizabeth Bennett print. I'm so enjoying doing these and I've now nearly finished the third in the set, no other than Peter Pan's Wendy. The Wendy silhouette is coming on beautifully. It's so good to be making again!
Now it's time to take my Lola for a walk. She's driving me insane and I cannot take her destructive demands for attention any longer! Having a dog is blissful but having a bonkers one that needs long walks every day to prevent her turning from an adorable cutie into a maniac can be waring. But totally, totally worth it, she's such a sweetheart.

2009-10-02T02:56:00.000-07:00

A is for Apple, B is for Bird...

This little print was created by me for my new baby daughter. It looks so adorable in it's frame, I love it! It reads Edie's Alphabet at the top because that's her name but that can be changed or removed completely. It's so hard to find time for my work with a little one to look after but then again every spare second is so precious I waste no time at all! Not like before when I could spend days procrastinating. The print is up on my Etsy site as of yesterday. I hope you like it.

2009-10-01T02:14:00.000-07:00

Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair... ~Susan Polis Shutz

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. ~Emma Goldman

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. ~Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat

Perfumes are the feelings of flowers. ~Heinrich Heine, The Hartz Journey

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. ~Chinese Proverb

A beautiful day spent at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. The flowers were enjoying their very last days of bloom which made them all the more lovely. Petals falling away, leaves turning brown, goodbye to summer and hello to the new season.
I've a sweet new print on Etsy which I'll post about tomorrow.

Alice and Elizabeth

2009-09-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

Here are Alice (Alice in Wonderland of course!) and Elizabeth (Bennett, Pride and Prejudice), two of the literary heroine silhouette pictures I made. I put them in little frames so that I can group them together on the wall. I'm pleased with the way they turned out. Behind each silhouette is text from the first page of the novel and below a quote from the heroine. Alice's reads Curiouser and curiouser, and Elizabeth's I am the happiest creature in the world. I think I shall make a start on Pippi Longstocking next. Who do you think I should include? Any ideas?

2009-09-05T03:48:00.000-07:00

"I wish I hadn't cried so much!" said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out. "I shall be punished for it now, I suppose, by being drowned in my own tears! That will be a queer thing, to be sure! However everything is queer today."

I'm working on a literary heroines project starting with dear Alice. Here she is as a silhouette I've drawn. And below are some of the other appearances Alice has made through the years.

2009-09-02T02:32:00.001-07:00

'...by the sea that was lying down still and green as grass after a night of tar-black howling and rolling...' Dylan Thomas

Today last week I was staying just a stone's throw from Newquay in West Wales, which is one place the poet Dylan Thomas lived during his beautiful but short life. If you've seen the film The Edge of Love it's the village where , close by, Dylan and his wife Caitlin kept a house. Beautiful film, such eye candy. Woolly jumpers, silk kimonos, knee socks, victory rolls, dance halls, poets, afternoon drinking and windswept beaches.

2009-08-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Love, Peace and Music
As I'm back making a little here and a little there I've reopened my Etsy. Just one print in to start, my Love, Peace and Music. Three most precious things.

2009-08-28T07:32:00.001-07:00

Back from a holiday in a hideaway cottage out West. Family, food, a beautiful nook in the woods by the sea, my gorgeous Lola, my little sweetheart. We lit candles and ate outside, we walked on the beach at dusk, we picniced by the sea. It was good. Lately I've had my troubles but I'm on the mend and there's lots to love.

Snow

2009-02-09T08:21:00.000-08:00

I love the snow. I feel sad when it melts. Looking out of the window to see big, fat snowflakes falling from a white washed sky when you've got a cup of hot tea, woolly socks on and a good book to read is a beautiful thing.

These things happened in 2008...

2009-01-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

I got pregnant!
I had a blast at Glastonbury
I flew to Portugal got ill and flew back
I got away from it all here

I grew up a little
I realised what an amazing thing the female body is
I rejoiced when my husband finally got the job of his dreams
I won a design competition
I wrote, drew and made... but not enough
I went to my baby brother's wedding
I kissed my dog far more than is healthy

I kissed my husband far more than is healthy (and look where that got me)
I was broke
I was a little less broke
I had my first wedding anniversary!

2009-01-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

the old year

a new year

Another year

2008-07-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Things have been a tiny bit rubbish for me recently. I've been ill and then ill again- a wicked double dose- and had to abandon my holiday in Portugal and fly home. Oh, dear. But, hey, nevermind, I'm on the mend and it's my birthday today. And I've got such an amazing family and such wonderful friends that I'm feeling a little more smiley today and thankful that I'm so lucky.

These cupcakes are HUGE.

This is a gorgeous limited edition cup and saucer designed by Julie Verhoeven. A gift from my husband!

And a lovely gift from Tiffanys from my dear friend Rhianydd and a bracelet from another fantastic friend Louise that I shall use as a charm bracelet. I've wanted one for a long time.

I'm very lucky.
And the All Saints jeans I had from my mum split in a potentially embarassing place due to a fault in the stitching so I took them back and got a refund. Then I saw them in the sale a week or two later and so bought a new pair for half the price! I spent the other half on another pair with a different print so now I have two pairs! A faint leopard print pair and a faint zebra print pair. I love them and wear them ALL THE TIME. Like I used to wear my stone washed skinnies with zips up the legs all the time when I was a little girl back in the 80's. Anyway, so far it's a very good day.

Glastonbury was beautiful!

2008-06-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Back from an amazing weekend at Glastonbury! I had the best time and the sun actually showed up and hung around for a very respectable amount of time. I always book into a hotel (in theory camping kinda appeals to me but in practice I pretty much despise it) and so a drizzly and muddy Friday didn't worry me too much, but then Saturday was GORGEOUS! I loved it. I saw some fantastic bands. Goldfrapp blew me away. Alison Goldfrapp looked great as usual and her voice is amazing live. They came on at about 6.30pm and it was that lovely time of the day when the sun is begining to sink a little and everything is golden and hazy and gorgeous.

Foals played in the rain on Friday but were so tight and put everything into their set.

There were so many other great bands. Vampire weekend were so good, definitely one of my highlights, as was Seasick Steve, Amy Winehouse, Neon Neon, and The Raconteurs. Plus, my brother in law's girlfriend had a vintage clothes stall by the Pyramid Stage and so I even managed to do a little shopping. And when I say shopping I mean she very, very kindly gave me a couple of things I had my eye on for free! How could it get any better?

To keep and to treasure...

2008-06-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

It'll be our first wedding anniversary soon and in honour of the occasion we've bought this painting from artist Amanda Blake. I adore her work. It has a vintage feel and is soft and muted and a little magical.
I think it would be nice to invest in something beautiful every anniversary. Something to keep and to treasure.

2008-06-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

Zooey, looking as perfect as ever in this amazing dress.

2008-06-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

I went to a wedding on the weekend. It was such a gorgeous day and the sun didn't stop shining. The day had a 'film' theme and as I was sat on the Breakfast At Tiffany's table I got to wear a tiara and a huge sparkley ring all through the meal. There was also a Moulin Rouge table, a Top Gun table and a Batman table (which was accessorised with, amongst other things, a cat mask not unlike the Luella version which I was a little jealous of. A good idea don't you think? I wore this Johnny Loves Rosie headband with a huge flower.
And a silk dress in this print. Don't you hate wearing heels on grass? I'm wedged in about 3in here.
My lil' brother is getting married in August and I haven't yet decided on an outfit. Got any ideas? Any suggestions gratefully received.

Too much, too many?

2008-06-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

I'm tempted by the pink Rayban wayfarers. Except that I think they're way overdone. But aren't they sweet? Would you?

Lust in the movies

2008-05-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

This morning I was first in line with my popcorn and Diet Coke for the midday showing of Sex And The City the movie. Nearly two and a half hours later it was all over and I was left feeling overwhelmed and yet a tiny bit disappointed as I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. I cry at almost anything in movies by the way, but this film got me more than once, when I visited the ladies at the end I wished I'd bought my sunnies to hide my bleary eyes, rather embarrassed to be caught weeping at what was, really, an extended advertisement for designer labels, coffee shop chains and Vogue magazine. But, oh what a beautiful advertisement! At the beginning I was eyes agog at Carrie's loved up life with Big- the most amazing Penthouse appartment, the most gorgeous shoes, the BIGGEST WALK IN WARDROBE EVER. It was all painfully perfect. But of course it doesn't last. Not to give anything away that the trailer doesn't.
The materialistic elements of the film are true fashion and lifestyle porn for us girls and guys who love to shop, play dress up and drink champagne (or Cava depending on the state of our overdrafts) and you can easily lose yourself for an hour or two in a blur of Westwood, Vuitton and Chanel. However, I was disappointed in Carrie's style, she's lost nearly all of the eclectic fun in her fashion sense. It was all grown up labels nearly all the way. I left the cinema with little inspiration. Nothing new or exciting. Just stuff you can buy if you're loaded.
The film is darker than the series, which is probably a good thing in order to maintain the drama over the length of a feature film, but it seemed to me that the girls don't seem to have much fun anymore. The dialogue was as snappy as usual but it didn't make me laugh much. I was too busy drooling over apartments and shoes and crying over... well, go see the film.
I, for one, plan on opening a bottle of Cava tonight.
And the plans for my version of Carries walk in wardrobe (the original, from her East Side apartment, not the uber movie version) are coming on nicely. It mostly consists of a distinctly unglamorous sounding clothes storage system from Ikea, which should be arriving sometime at the beginning of June.
Yum.

Kissing Wilde

2008-05-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

When ladies (and some gentlemen, I'm sure) visit the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris they like to leave their kiss on the headstone of Oscar Wilde. It's covered in a smattering of lipstick kisses. But apparently the fats in lipstick make it impossible to remove from stone. Is it vandalism or a romantic show of love and respect?
I haven't left a kiss on Wilde's grave. I don't wear lipstick and I think it would be more elegant to leave a note perhaps, or just blow a kiss. But I think he would've adored it. After all, he was the man who said;
'Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.'
'Life is too important to be taken seriously.'
and
'There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.'
I wonder why Wilde has inspired such devotion amongst people today? Is it because he was ahead of his time, and we see him as being like us? Hedonistic, pleasure seeking, vain and shallow, but with buckets of charm, passion and, of course, his renowned wit.

I just can't help myself...

2008-05-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

Having no self control when it comes to the high street I've been spending money I haven't got once again. But when it's buy-one-get-one-free in Topshop it's a crime not to have a little look. Unfortunately that little look can be fatal especially when last month's pay failed to materialise in my already malnourished bank account. And so I returned home with this studded dress and the shoes below for a sum total of £25.But the most exciting purchase was the All Saints jeans my lovely, lovely mum bought me for my birthday (which is two months away...). They're a leopard print with an black over-layed dye and ever since I saw my brother in law's missus with a pair I've been obsessing over them. And now I've finally got my mitts on them! Haha!

Tagged

2008-05-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

Miss White of White Writing tagged me for the six quirks meme. So here goes...

The rules are:
1. Link the person(s) who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules in your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger's blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

1- I wake up in the dead of night and see things that are not there, like spiders all over my bed, a hand holding a spoonful of sugar over my head and a floating pair of knickers. Not all at once though, that'd be weird.
2- I passed my driving test a long, long time ago and haven't driven since. I'm no good.
3- I've not ever, never killed any living creature on purpose. Not even a fly, not even a slug or a spider. I once killed a caterpiller by accident but I'd rather not talk about that.
4- Every time I go to the States I get stopped and interrigated at immigration by mean men who accuse me of a crime I didn't commit back in the late nineties in NYC. It lasts about an hour then they let me in. They won't tell me exactly what I'm supposed to have done which is very annoying. But I definitely never did it.
5- I got married in Vegas. There's more to that story but I haven't the time or the inclination to go into it.
6- Things break off in my hand all the time. I break things all the time. I lose my keys/mobile/cash card all the time. I'm always late.
That last one was supplied my ever loving husband. Cheers darling.

These things are surprisingly hard aren't they?
And now I'm gonna tag these ladies. (Actually I'll add that bit tomorrow as I have a DVD to watch.)

But here's the first pic of Audrey as Coco Chanel in anticipation of the forthcoming film. Looking forward to seeing the finished thing in 2009...

Time flies...

2008-05-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Oh, how fast a month flies by. Usual excuses for not posting. How boring it is... work, decorating, studying- humdrum. All my good intentions out the window. But now I'm back! Although I'm just off for tea and to watch weeks and weeks of Sky Plus-ed Gossip Girls at my friend's house so tomorrow will have to be my first real post...
But I've just finished this book by Sophie Dahl and it's very good and very lovely. I was impressed. (Now I'm giving myself away by admitting that I've had time to read a book but it was read in the car on the way to London and back, so there.)

Oh la la!

2008-04-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

I've been watching way too many films that are set in Paris. In fact, 'Don't rent anymore films about Paris' were the last words my guy uttered as he left for work this morning.

Amelie, oh, it's my all time favourite. I don't care if it's sappy and 'feel good', it can only be miserable sods who don't want to feel good when it comes to Amelie. I love the story, I love the colours, the green and red theme- you'd think it'd look ugly but it doesn't! It looks divine!
Before Sunrise and Before Sunset- again, such beautiful films. If you haven't seen them then do. Both star Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy who meet in the first film and fall in love during a sublime day spent in Paris. The film finishes with them promising to meet again in six months. There's not much plot, just walking and talking but it's fab. Watch it. Watch both.

We've also just watched Paris J'Taime, a film made up of 18 short films by 18 directors. It was watchable, but not mind-blowing. Cute poster though.
And lastly Two Days in Paris. An enjoyable enough way to spend an evening as long as you have wine or chocolate, or wine and chocolate.

My favourite things to do in Paris
Eat macaroons.
Sit on Pont Neuf in the sun and eat cheese and baguette and drink wine.
Sit outside cafes in sunglasses and people watch.
Browse the thrift shops and spend some euros.
J'adore.

Miu Miu at TK Maxx Thrill

2008-04-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

I think this bargain is the best I've ever had. Miu Miu trousers in the clearance from £349 to £23. How beautiful is that?
Otherwise eating ice-cream with maple syrup and drinking ginger cordial with fizzy water. And I started 'training' for the Race For Life. Which entails me putting my trainers on instead of my wellies when I take Lola for a walk and every so often breaking into a trot.

Nesting

2008-04-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

Doing up my house has been a long and drawn out saga with a lot of procrastination, a little hard graft and a few tears (due to a traumatic carpet experience that occurred last week- according to the carpet guy I bring a whole new dimension to carpet fitting). But it's slowly taking shape now and I've been inspired by the blogs of stylish homely types to take on a few projects.
This is something I've been wanting to do for, oooo, around three years now.
Turn this-

Into something resembling this- image taken from Famille Summerbelle
Now I've posted about it I might, just might, get around to doing it in the dim and distant future.
Love Anna X

I love specs

2008-04-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

I love Tatty Devine's jewelery and my current fancy is their glasses necklaces, particularly the Jarv Specs Necklace below which are HUGE. The size of actual glasses in fact. Jarv Specs Glasses £35

These are adorable too if you'd rather something a little more subtle.

Then there's these nerd-tastic 3-D specs.

And these bubblicous heart shape glasses.
Let's be honest, I want them all.
Love Anna X

Hand drawn text is miles better than Times New Roman

2008-04-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

Here's some new work produced by my husband for Goldlion. It's a hand-drawn piece containing the titles of all the tracks on the Velvet Underground album The Velvet Underground and Nico. We've both been hung up on hand-drawn font for ages now. I love creating beautiful, unique text that's so different to formal text.
Plus, my winning badges have arrived from Stereohype and I'm very much pleased with them! I'll take pics asap. We've just ordered a badge making machine for Goldlion so we can experiment with a load of new designs when it arrives.
Love Anna X

Julie Verhoeven- so inspiring...

2008-04-07T04:25:00.000-07:00

Once again I've turned to my beautiful Julie Verhoeven books for inspiration. She creates the most beautiful images. Julie studied Art and Design on a Fashion Diploma course and began her career by working for Galliano before setting out as a fashion illustrator and textile/accessories designer.

I have two of her books, Fat Bottomed Girls and Julie Verhoeven. These books are beautiful, beautiful and her images manage to be both lovely and dark at the same time. I think her stuff is so unique, don't you?
Love Anna X

Burgers and a new dress

2008-04-03T03:06:00.001-07:00

Wednesday night has been turning into date night recently as last week we went to see The Long Blondes play in Cardiff (which I've been meaning to post about and might still yet) and last night we went down to the Bay and had ourselves a Gourmet Burger and a Corona at this place (which was nearly as empty as it is in the pic).
City Bar and Canteen, Cardiff Bay

I wore the dress I bought at the last Blind Lemon vintage fashion fair in Bristol. To be honest I only bought it cos I felt I had to buy something to justify the trip up there (I wasn't really in shopping mode as I hadn't got in the night previous till around 5 and I'm much too old to handle those kind of dumb drunken shenanigans AND get up first thing) but now I'm glad I did. It's a nice winter/spring crossover dress, good with thick woolly tights but moving away from the black, black and more black that I've been drawn to this winter. It was cold down the Bay though so I thanked my lucky stars I hadn't ditched the thick tights and winter coat just yet.
The burger was fantastic (veggie and camembert, no beef for veggie me, no way) and by the time we'd got to the City Bar I had to undo my belt in order to fit my Corona in (bloke's fault- he insisted we needed two side orders of fries- have you seen the size of the burgers at GBK? They're the high rises of the burger world.) And then I woke up at 2.15 am shaking my bloke's arm and saying there were rats on our bedroom ceiling, I blame the garlic mayonnaise.

Love Anna X

Neon Neon

2008-03-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Gruff Rhys of the genuinely super Super Furry Animals and music producer Boom Bip have come together to form electro pop collaboration Neon Neon. Their debut album Stainless Style hit the shops on Monday. This album is all about the life of 80's motorcar mogul and general cad John DeLorean who's probably best known (to me anyhow) as the guy who designed the car in Back To The Future.

The first single I Lust U is a sexy little number and I've been beeping along to it's synth-y sounds all week. Check it out here. Gruff's vocals are always lovely and they work as well here amongst all the electro-tweeking as they have anywhere. Very much recommended by me.

Love Anna X

I won something!!!

2008-03-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

Guess who won the Stereohype competition for a series of badge designs? ME that's who! And I'm over the moon chuffed.

Love Anna X

2008-03-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

The rain just keeps on coming down and my feet keep getting wet and I just can't wait till Spring. I love winter and getting all cosified, putting my pyjamas on at 6pm, lighting candles and drinking hot chocolate with a good book BUT NOW I WANT SOME SUN! My sunny clothes are calling out to me Anna, Hellooooo, put me on, you'll feel soooo much better but not with pneumonia I won't.
But what's to stop me planning, eh?

Things to do this summer.
1- Glastonbury. Had a ball last year. Even though it rained and was muddy and my thighs took a battering (you try walking through 6 types of knee-high mud constantly for three days). And I'm (extremely) lucky enough to get guest passes. Highlights for me were The Klaxons, CSS, The Killers, Bat For Lashes and Amy Winehouse.
Lovefoxx from CSS at Glastonbury 2007

2- Make my garden beautiful with lanterns and candles and comfy places to drink wine at night. This one is doubtful to happen as my garden is currently maybe the ugliest garden in town and it's main usage is as a place for my puppy to do a poo.

3- Make art.

4- Swim in the sea. Which is something I haven't done for a long, long time. And you just can't beat it really.

5- Take lots of Polairoid photos. Did you know they're going to STOP MAKING POLAIROID FILM!? That sucks.

Ahoy there

2008-03-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

My cute Primark dress with a Topshop necklace. How refreshing are blue and white stripes? And vertical stripes are much kinder than horizontal, unless, of course, they're distorted by wayward lumps and bumps... How long till Summer now? Got to get on that cross trainer fast.
And here's my pup Lola who is HARD WORK. But lovely lovely lovely. So worth it.

Love Anna X

Christina

2008-03-06T07:36:00.001-08:00

Christina

2008-03-05T12:31:00.001-08:00

2008-03-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

After swearing off too-cheap-to-be-true clothes because of the whole someone's working for a pittance in some hell-hole to make this piece of tat thing I went to Cardiff's Primark on Saturday and suddenly came over all strange. How can you not walk through there and not get a dry mouth and sweaty palms as the realisation hits you that you can be on trend for so many of Spring/Summer 08's looks by only spending about £12.99? Damn that place... I did control myself somewhat through and emerged with only two of the 300 pieces that I tried on. I think it's hard to keep a clear conscience when it comes to fashion and I end up feeling guilty about so many things (mainly spending what little money I've got when I've got a mindless shopping induced head rush on) but clothes and fashion and dressing up make me happy and so I'll have to try harder to reconcile the shopper and the ethical consumer parts of me. That's what's so nice about second hand, what with recycling and all. So watch out British Heart Foundation, I'm a-coming...

Love Anna

I've been watching...

2008-02-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

...Factory Girl, about 60's style icon and Andy Warhol's darling Edie Sedgwick, and Control, a movie about Ian Curtis, messed-up lead singer in 70's band Joy Division. Let's just say you wouldn't want to swap places with either of them however cool they look with a fag (I could crack a joke here about Warhol here but I meant I'm sure you know I mean cigarette)

Both are definitely worth a look. Guy Pierce's Warhol for Factory Girl is utterly creepy and has left me compelled to read his autobiography. Factory Girl doesn't paint a pretty picture of him for sure.

Other than that I've been steadily making my way through the Sex And The City box set aiming to have watched them all by May when the movie hits our multiplexes. Of course it's my favourite TV show of all time and of course I can't wait till May and of course I've seen the new trailer that gives away basically the whole plot and so here are some much publicised Carrie outfits from the forthcoming film.

And here's her closet. I'm going to have one just like it real soon and if my other half is reading this then I AM HAVING ONE AND I WILL KEEP IT TIDY, OK?

Love, Anna

2008-02-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

Hello,

The fashion gods were being very sweet the day I picked up my Miu Miu trousers from TK Maxx last week. I adore a bargain and I've been on a roll lately. But these were in clearance can you believe and I got them for next to nothing. Major thrill! But seeing as they're about two foot too long I have to wait for a lady who happens to have a throat infection to get well enough to take them up for me.
Over in Milan Fashion Week D&G are making me wish it was Autumn/Winter 2008/9 before we've even had our fun in Spring/Summer 2008.

Loving the tartan tights clashing with the dress prints, loving the seventies vibe, loving the frills and the flares. A little Ali McGraw, Love Story don't you think?

And I can't wait to be a hippy-rock-chick-military type like the Gucci girls. Plus Gucci gave us the best boots I've seen in, oooo, days...
Because I adore Desperately Seeking Susan and I always wanted a pair of those shit hot boots she trades in her jacket for. (Was never sure about the jacket though.)

Love, Anna X